International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification

Particularly in Africa was signed 15 October 1994 and ratified 24 February 1997.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter A National Plan for Combatting Desertification has been developed and submitted to the Interim Secretariat of the Convention for approval.

The mountain areas which are cultivated suffer from soil and water erosion, as well as limited infrastructure and marketing facilities. These problems lead to a need for sustainable economic diversification, especially since, despite intensification of the use of farmlands in the mountain areas, these lands will never be able to accommodate the additional population growth expected and already apparent.

Pakistan is faced with some common problems in both irrigated and rainfed areas used for agriculture. These problems can be summarized as erosion of soil, underuse of organic fertilizers and overuse of synthetic chemicals. In rainfed areas, overextensive cultivation is common.

The decision for intensification of farm lands in Pakistan stems from demographic reality. In rough terms, one hectare of cultivated land supported an average 5 people in 1993; by the year 2010, it is estimated that the same land must support nearly 10. Pakistan has developed strategies to ensure food security by 1998, which also includes the agricultural sector.

In 1981-82, a programme called "Matching Grants Programme" (MGP) was initiated. The MGP focuses on the development of infrastructure in rural areas, and is based on community participation. To date, about 22,000 schemes have been implemented in 26.500 villages. An evaluation of the MGP showed that the programme has had a noteworthy effect on the communities in terms of raising both socio-economic standards, and mass-awareness of hygiene and environmental conditions. Numerous meetings and working groups have been initiated to strengthen the knowledge and capacity within food production, improve access to agricultural markets, and manage land and fertilizer use. A National Rural Support Programme was established to promote education and health, based on community participation. In 1993, this programme was supported by the Government with Rs.1,000,000.

Pakistan is a party to a number of nature conservation Conventions which include :

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) - Bonn Convention

The Convention on Wetlands of international Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention)

World Heritage Convention

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Framework Convention on Climate Change

The Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD): Pakistan is a signatory and its ratification is being processed.

Pakistan has initiated preparation of a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) which should be completed in its first phase by the time that CSD V is convened (April 1997). The second phase of preparation will begin as soon as further GEF funding has been made available.

Pakistan has been successful in implementing the above-mentioned Conventions and this has resulted in a new lease on life for wild animals, the conservation of protected areas, including wetlands, and coastal areas. There is a great need to develop a mechanism for the implementation of all the Conventions. CITES, for example, can only be made effective if the Management and Scientific Authorities in the developing countries under CITES are made strong by increasing their capacity both in terms of finance, technology and staffing. Their research capabilities need to be extended. Rescue centres, which are required to be designated by the Parties, do not have the capacity to host confiscated species and therefore specific funding for this is required, particularly for Authorities and Custom Officers. Specific training of Customs Officers as well as Enforcement Officers is needed and which also requires funding in developing countries.

Pakistan has many wetlands of international importance, but so far, few could be identified for listing in the Wetlands Conventions. This Convention also does not have an effective funding mechanism. The Monitoring procedure of the Wetlands Convention could not assist Pakistan in developing its Wetlands and Coastal Areas and there is a great need for such a mechanism to be strengthened.

Only the Convention on Biological Diversity has a funding mechanism, while other Conventions do not. The governments, especially developing country parties, have to bear the costs of implementation of the obligations of the Conventions. Therefore, there is a great need for all of the Conventions to be technically and financially supported through the GEF mechanism and extended to all developing country parties. CSD should ensure that the funding of the developing country Parties is made obligatory, without which the world's heritage is not likely to be conserved on a sustainable basis.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

Pakistan has many sites which could qualify for designation as sites for the World Heritage Convention. The search for an outstanding site which may qualify for designation as a World Heritage Site needs special attention. All previous efforts of Pakistan have not been agreed to by the World Heritage Committee, and due to a lack of funds, Pakistan could not explore such sites. There is, therefore, a need for UN Agencies and other international donors to come forward and assist Pakistan and other developing country parties in the identification of World Heritage Sites so as to save them from any further deterioration and take measures for their development.

Pakistan is a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity and has taken up many measures before becoming a Party to this Convention. Pakistan has 15 National Parks, 86 Wildlife Sanctuaries and an equal number of Game Reserves. Management Plans have been prepared for 3 National Parks. The implementation of the management plans of these National Parks and preparation of the management plans for the remaining National Parks is required immediately. Similarly, many species are endangered and plans for their recovery are to be made immediately.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was signed December 1982 and ratified 26 February 1997.

See also the attached tables on the next pages.

The Pakistani coast is exposed to negative environmental impacts from thermal pollution, increased oil spills, tarballs, and plastic and toxic effluents, including heavy metal. The coastal strip of Pakistan is arid, with less than 20 centimeters precipitation a year. Pakistan has mangrove on approximately 800,000 acres of swamp.

The Karachi Port is mostly polluted by non port related activities. An estimated 90,000 tons of oil products from vessels and the port's terminals are dumped every year in the port's water. To address the problem, the Karachi Port Trust has signed MARPOL 1972-1979. A green belt around Karachi Port is being implemented. The project includes planting 150,000 mangroves and 350,000 various other plants.

The Port Quasim Authority has initiated a number of activities which include mangrove plantations and locating industries in large industrial estates to clear the coastline.

Pakistan also has an on-going research-project which aims at assessing the water requirements of different species. The idea is to use the information for various forest extension projects. A water survey and analysis was carried out in Quetta, Pakistan.

Rivers Kabul and Ravi provide food, directly through fishing and indirectly through irrigation, as well as water for both drinking and industry.

The Rawal Lake has been selected for special attention concerning unsustainable activities, such as building latrines at specific locations and construction of septic tanks in the existing settlements. In addition, 3 projects have been recommended, concerning improvement of catchment areas and the provision of septic tanks and watershed management.

Pakistan is suffering from the adverse soil, air and occupational effects caused by the use of chemicals in the textile and leather industries. These problems have led to various projects aimed at reducing pollution from the industries. The projects address toxic effluent reduction by using appropriate technology transfer, recycling chrome recovery, establishing institutions for in-house pollution control in the tanneries, and by establishing industrial complexes which provide the leather industry with the infrastructure and utilities required. In Pakistan, around 250,000 tones of hazardous medical waste is produced annually. Management of this type of waste has not yet been achieved.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was ratified on 26 July, 1994.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter The industrialization of Pakistan has had an effect on the environment, especially since the discharging of waste is being done without consideration to the treatment facilities that are required to maintain sustainability.

The environmentally sound management of hazardous waste is one of the core issues in the National Conservation Strategy of Pakistan. The National Environment Quality Standard is being applied to the issue of waste management. In addition, Pakistan has prohibited the import of hazardous waste in accordance with the Basel Convention.

The environmentally sound management of sewerage and solid waste is a core issue in the National Conservation Strategy of Pakistan. Consequently, National Environment Quality Standards have been implemented for issues related to this sector. This has led to some concrete measures; for example the waste problems of cement factories are being addressed by installing anti-pollution technology.

The following recommendations have been made to counter the consumption of 20,000 tones of paper within the Federal Administration: an improvement in paper collection, an emphasis on the use of recycling; and the launching of mass awareness campaigns.

Since most of the projects in NCS are labour intensive, it is estimated that Pakistan stands to gain 80,000 jobs a year during the ten years of NCS.

CHANGES IN NATIONAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: The financial philosophy behind the National Conservation Strategy is that of financial sustainability, meaning that a welfare economic surplus is to be expected, since the cost of the environmentally sound projects will be outweighed by the benefits in the long run. Recommendations have been made to redirect existing high-cost development programmes to fund 40% of the total NCS budget. The additional Rs. 90 million was to have come from the private sector, but because of the economic constraints, it may be difficult to meet this recommendations.

NEW ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS: One of the recommendations made in relation to international funding is the implementation of the debt-for-nature swaps, which would allow Pakistan to reduce its foreign debt by using the money for environmental conservation.

A Development Bank in Pakistan was found commercially inviable, therefore an off-shore Fund was recommended since it would have the necessary financial advantages, i.e. zero taxation, for attracting international investors. The Environmental Fund would have an Investment Advisory Company (IAC). The IAC would be composed of shareholders who provide the initial money 5.0 million US Dollars or 10% of the estimated requirements. The 90% would be private investors - local and foreign, and multilateral and bilateral institutions such as IBRD, IFC and the Asian Development Bank.

Recommendations for raising domestic funding include: introduction of the Polluter Pays Principle and other taxation measures in various sectors; adjustment of projects, for example on water; encouragement of private investment, for example in "Conservation pays" projects like recycling paper; supplement lotteries, and fund-raising schemes.

ELIMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY SUBSIDIES: New Economic Instruments - Consideration is being given to the use of an effluent tax as a means of enforcing National Enviromental Quality Standards. The precise modalities are under consideration.

Pakistan is a recipient country of ODA.

The SDPI was supported in enhancing capacity and expertise concerning technology transfer by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation (NORAD), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC). The Environment and Urban Affairs Division and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency have been supported in capacity building by a World Bank funded project on Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation.

MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION: Pakistan is a member of APO and also benefits from the facilities available through UNIDO, UNEP, and UNDP.

STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE LONG TERM SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT, BUILDING OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY: No information.

Over 3000 Educational Environmental Clubs have been set up in various parts of Pakistan. These clubs perform various task from assisting the Mass Afforestation Programme, to educating the public, and operating as pressure groups.

Pakistan is participating in the UNESCO-UNEP International Environmental Education Programme (IEEP).

a) Reorientation of education towards sustainable development The Government has decided to impose a compulsory research paper on the environment at secondary and intermediate school levels. General recommendations have been made aiming at educational measures in decision making, and to enhance environmental subjects in school textbooks.

b) Increasing public awareness The Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development has been fortunate in its collaboration with the media. Mass awareness campaigns have been communicated through T.V.; radio and the press. The Ministry also finances writers and media to communicate the message of sustainable development.

A library and documentation centre will be established in Pakistan's Environmental Protection Agency. This centre will also be available to educational institutions, industry and non-governmental organizations.

c) Promoting training The Teachers Training Centre of Excellence in Islamabad is providing training for educators at tertiary level. UNEP has offered to provide assistance to the programme. The Government has also introduced a module on the environment in its Certificate of Teaching and Primary Teacher's Certificate courses.

The Journalists' Resource Centre for the Environment (JRC) trains journalists in reporting on the environment by running field workshops.

The Coastal Ecosystem Unit employs participatory rural appraisal methodology; and there is an Internship Programme at the World Conservation Union.

ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS: Non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders such as local communities have been involved in mass awareness campaigns in the media.

At the Pakistan Forest Institute a specific programme in forestry development has been developed for women.

FINANCING AND COST EVALUATION OF THE LABOUR ACTIVITIES: No information.

The Government of Pakistan has signed an agreement with the World Bank for a loan of US $ 29.2 million to undertake the "Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation Project (EPRCP)". The project would be the first phase in what could be a long term programme of international donor support. Under this project, there is a component of industrial strengthening of the Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development and federal and provincial Environmental Protection Agencies. The project has already commenced and is providing funding for staff training, technical assistance and additional staff positions in the Ministry and Pak-EPA.